Higher Education
e-Digest
Volume 2 / Issue 22
July 30, 2014
In This Issue:
FROM FEDERAL PARTNERS

 

Implementation of Changes to the Clery Act Made by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA)


Published on July 14, 2014, this Dear Colleague Letter from the Department of Education provides, guidance to institutions regarding their responsibility to comply with Section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA), before final regulations are effective.
 

 

Ready to Work: Job-Driven Training and American Opportunity

 

In his 2014 State of the Union Address, and as part of his plan to make 2014 a Year of Action, President Barack Obama announced that he was asking Vice President Joseph Biden to lead a review of federal training programs in order to identify and implement steps to make these programs more "job-driven," and to be responsive to the needs of employers in order to effectively place ready-to-work Americans in jobs that are available now or train them in the skills needed for better jobs. The Vice President has released a new report (July 2014) that details these actions and highlights successful job-driven strategies.
 

 

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

President Barack Obama signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) into law on July 22, 2014. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Congress passed the Act by a wide bipartisan majority. It is the first legislative reform in 15 years of the public workforce system.
 

 

The DAWN Report: Alcohol and Drug Combinations Are More Likely to Have a Serious Outcome than Alcohol Alone in Emergency Department Visits Involving Underage Drinking


Underage drinkers (ages 12 to 20) who were treated in hospital emergency departments were more than twice as likely to wind up with a serious health outcome if they also used drugs at the same time, according to a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These serious outcomes included hospitalization, transfer to another health care facility following their emergency department visit, or death. 
NEW RESOURCE

 

Voices from the Field on Supporting First-Year College Students

 

Voices from the Field, a National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) website feature, is a place where administrators, teachers/faculty, staff, community, and family members can (1) share what they think by responding to a polling question, (2) see what others think by viewing the poll's results, (3) see what experts think by reading a short post that includes references and related resources, and (4) share experiences by posting comments.

 

This month's Voices from the Field is about supporting first year college students, including preventing high-risk alcohol consumption. How students adjust to their learning environments affects how they learn and campus climate as a whole.


Visit http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/voices-field/how-does-your-campus-create-supportive-safe-environment-first-year-students to learn what experts think and share how your campus and community has supported first year students in this month's Voices from the Field!

 
IN THE NEWS

Gallup Politics, July 24, 2014 

The Arbiter, Jul 23, 2014

Tallahassee Democrat, July 22, 2014  

San Diego Union Tribune, July 22, 2014 

Inside Higher Ed, July 22, 2014 

Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, July 21, 2014

USA Today, July 21, 2014 

The Columbus Dispatch, July 18, 2014 

The New York Times, July 12, 2014
RECENT RESEARCH

 

College Law Enforcement and Security Department Responses to Alcohol-Related Incidents: A National Study
Bernat, D.H., Lenk, K.M., Nelson, T.F., Winters, K.C. & Toomey, T.L. (July 2014) Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 

 

The Effect of Energy Drinks on the Urge to Drink Alcohol in Young Adults McKetin, R. & Coen, A. (July 2014) Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research 

 

America's Democracy Colleges: The Civic Engagement of Community College Students Newell, M.A. (September 2014) Community College Journal of Research and Practice 

 

Student Engagement and Institutional Graduation Rates: Identifying High-Impact Educational Practices for Community Colleges
Price, D.V. & Tovar, E. (September 2014) Community College Journal of Research and Practice
UPCOMING WEBINARS AND CONFERENCES

WEBINARS

Campus Religious & Spiritual Climate Survey: An Exclusive First Look
August 6, 2014, 12-1:00 PM CST

As communities and campuses become more diverse, students of different religious and spiritual worldviews are interacting with greater frequency than ever before. While these interactions can inspire collaboration and cohesion, they can also be a source of conflict and violence. To engage these issues, we first must understand what students experience as they encounter diverse others. The Campus Religious and Spiritual Climate Survey (CRSCS) helps leaders to understand student attitudes and experiences with religious and spiritual worldview diversity. This webinar will dive into the latest CRSCS data gleaned from 8,463 students attending 38 U.S. colleges and universities during the 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 academic years. Learn more about this webinar.
 

Social Media: #CrisisManagementPlanning
August 7, 2014, 2-3:30 PM EDT

Crisis communications have become more and more complicated and campus leaders need to think differently about the ways that they use this medium. Learn to consider the benefits and drawbacks of the effective use of social media in crisis management situations and help campuses establish a plan for the use of social media as yet another tool in a crisis communications plan. In this webinar presenters will provide teams with templates, definitions, pitfalls and sample plans to better prepare campuses for truly effective crisis communication.


Hazing: Beyond Greek Life: Promising Practices for 2014
August 13, 2014, 2-3:30 PM EDT

Hazing continues to be an issue of concern for colleges and universities - as illustrated by discussions of federal legislation and over 30 published stories in the media regarding higher education incidents since the first of this year. Yet the majority of training and education programs continue to focus solely on hazing in Greek organizations. Recognizing that hazing is a complex issue that looks different in different types of organizations, teams or clubs this webinar is designed to engage participants in a thoughtful dialogue about prevention and response to hazing in non-fraternal organizations.


Commuter Students 2015: An Update
October 14, 2014, 2-3:30 PM EDT

This webinar focuses on concrete ways to use high-impact educational practices to enhance commuter student success. It will provide an extensive review of current and future trends affecting commuter students. Participants will: learn what commuter students want campuses to know about their needs and experiences; understand commuter students' positive and challenging interactions with campuses; and use the information and strategies presented to enhance student success on campus. Learn more about this webinar.


CONFERENCES

Designing Engaging Recreation Facilities
September 22 - 24, 2014, Minneapolis, MN

Recreation facilities can improve enrollment and retention if designed properly. The challenge is building a facility that integrates the social and physical needs of students. By addressing the many needs of students, a flexible design for a recreation facility can engage the entire student body. This conference includes expert-led sessions on design best practice, a site visit, and methods for incorporating student services into recreational facilities. Learn more about this conference.


Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) 2014 Town Hall Meetings Higher Education Initiative
For more information, contact Tom Colthurst.

Preventing Underage Drinking
August 7, 2014, 5-8:30 PM EDT, Greenville, NC

The Pitt County Coalition on Substance Abuse and Eastern Carolina University will convene a town hall meeting addressing underage and high-risk drinking, along with a silent auction. For more information, e-mail: montgomerysu@ecu.edu


Questions About Alcohol?
August 25, 2014, 3:30-4:30 PM EDT, College of Charleston, Charleston, SC

The College of Charleston presents a panel including an officer from the Charleston Police Department; the crime prevention officer from campus public safety; the director of the Office of Victim Services; a DUI attorney; and a licensed alcohol and drug counselor. For more information, e-mail: arreolajl@cofc.edu


University of Houston Downtown Town Hall
October 21, 2014, 11-1:00 PM, Houston, TX

The University of Houston Downtown has organized this event on the topic Our Campus. Our Health. Our Future, featuring a discussion about the collegiate underage epidemic and facilitated by campus student organizations. For more information, e-mail: alonzoL@uhd.edu

Additional town hall meetings in this series will take place this fall at Boston College, the College of the Marshall Islands, Drexel University, Florida State University, Gallaudet University, Gateway Community College, Georgia Regents University, Lewis-Clark State College Mississippi State University, Ohio University, Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Potomac State College, San Diego State University, Talladega College, UC Berkeley, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, University of Mount Union, Winston Salem State University, and Winthrop University. Check future issue of the e-Digest for details.
About NCSSLE's Higher Education e-Digest
The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Higher Education e-Digest addresses campus and community engagement, health, safety, and security. Regular contents include news from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and other federal partner agencies and organizations, salient research summaries, examples of effective field practices, announcements submitted by IHEs and other subscribers, and relevant upcoming events. The Higher Education e-Digest also highlights NCSSLE resources and the availability of ongoing services, including technical assistance, products, and tools. 
 

For More Information 
Visit http://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov

Engagement | Safety | Environment
The Center is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Healthy Students within the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education. It is operated by the American Institutes for Research in collaboration with Child Trends; Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning; EMT Associates; the Silver Gate Group; and Vision Training Associates.
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